bushway



March 3, 1964 G. H. BU SHWAY SELF-ADJUSTING BOX TOE BLANK CONDITIONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1961 FIG.

ATTORNEYS March 3, 1964 e. H. BUSHWAY 3,123,500 7 SELF-ADJUSTING BOX. TOE BLANK counx'rxonmc MACHINE Filed Feb. :5, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INV EN TOR.

W, Wu] (W ATTORNEYS GEORGE H. BUSHWAY G. H. BUSHWAY March 3, 1964 SELF-ADJUSTING BOX TOE BLANK CONDITIONING MACHINE Filed. Feb. 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

GEORGE H. BUSHWAY ATTORN EYS United States Patent O 3,123,500 SELF-ADJUSTlNG BOX TOE BLANK CONDITION- ING MACHINE George H. Bushway, Hampton, NE L; Stanley M. Burns, executor of said George H. Eushway, deceased, assiguor to Shir-Conditioner Inc., Hampton, N.H., a corporation of New Hampshire Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 86,929 4 Claims. (Cl. 1l8--426) This invention relates in general to shoe machinery and in particular to a machine for conditioning impregnated blanks for box toes and similar shoe elements.

In the shoe industry it is the practice to form box toes and other portions of the shoe from blanks which are impregnated with a compound which renders the blank stiff and hard. When the blanks are about to be incorporated into a shoe, they are treated with a solvent in order that they may be temporarily sufiiciently soft and pliable to be formed into the desired shape. After the solvent evaporates from the blank, the blank reassumes its hardened condition.

In my United States Patent No. 2,818,832 entitled Box Toe Blank Conditioning Machine, I disclosed a novel and simple machine for conditioning box toe blanks. This machine constituted a considerable advance over the machines that were then available, and it has enjoyed a great deal of commercial success. Briefly, the machine includes a drive motor and gear train mounted on a metal housing in which two chambers are formed. One of the chambers is a supply chamber in which a quantity of solvent is stored in a closed container. The other chamber is a blank-conditioning chamber through which the blank is passed to soften the impregnant. A passage connects the two chambers and a simple valve on the container permits a relatively small amount of the impregnant to be present in the conditioning chamber at all times.

The conditioning chamber is spanned by a shaft connected to the drive motor through the gear train and mounted for rotation in opposite walls of the housing. The shaft carries a disk or several uniformly spaced disks. On the periphery of the disks, a radial array of sharp pins or spurs is mounted. Box toe blanks are inserted in the conditioning chamber and are impaled upon the pins. They are then carried through the solvent in the bottom of the conditioning chamber by the pins and propelled over an adjustable wiping member which removes surplus solvent from both sides of the blank as it passes to a delivery tray or platform in soft flexible condition.

The blanks which are thus conditioned in the machine of my invention are seldom of uniform thickness. Hence, it is possible to encounter a biank so thick that there is insufficient room between the pins and the bottom of the housing for the blank to be passed through the solvent. Conversely, some blanks are so thin that they may drop from the pins into the bottom of the chamber and thus fail to be delivered out of the conditioning chamber in the desired manner. Recognizing this dimculty, in the machine of my earlier invention, I made the pins adjustable by setting them in radial holes in the periphery of the disks. I then utilized a set screw to permit adjustment of the. extension of the pins out from the periphery of the disks. This expedient has proven quite helpful, especially in those situations where a run of material from which the blanks are punched is either on the thick or the thin side. However, it often happens that different runs of material are intermingled and the operator of the conditioning machine encounters thick and thin blanks indiscriminately. In these circumstances, production is hampered, and it becomes a time-consuming and tedious task to adjust and readjust pins to accommodate the varying thicknesses of blanks. Moreover, extremely thin blanks can, and occasionally do, fall from the pins and the machine must be dismantled toremove them.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to facilitate the conditioning of box toe blanks whatever their thickness.

It is another object of this invention to eliminate product1on bottlenecks caused by the attempted processing of box toe blanks of varying thicknesses.

It is a further object of this invention to increase the efiiciency of the operation of conditioning box toe blanks.

It is a still further object of this invention to eliminate mechanical adjustments and to automatically compensate for non-uniform box toe blank material in the conditioning operation.

It is a still further object of the invention to permit the use of box toe blanks previously considered incapable of conditioning.

In general, my invention is organized about an improvement of my previous machine which includes a floating power transmission which permits the pin-carrying disks to accommodate themselves to blanks of a wide range of thicknesses. As may be seen in my above-cited patent, the pin-carrying disks are driven by a suitable motor and gear train attached to the housing ofthe conditioning machine. It is of course desirable to maintain the blanks impaled upon the pins at all times during the passage of the blanks through the conditioning chamber. To accommodate blanks of a wide range of thicknesses, I have provided a system for driving the disks which permits them to move radially away from the inner chamber surface while rotating when a relatively thick blank is passed between the disks and the inner surface of the housing of the conditioning chamber. Similarly, when a thin blank is passed through the conditioning chamber, the disks automatically move to a position closer to the inner housing wall, and the blanks remain firmly impaled upon the pins. Although I contemplate the utilizaiton of numerous forms of flexible couplings between the drive motor and the disks, my preferred construction includes two pairs of gears at opposite ends of the shaft which supports the disks, the gears of each set being coupled together by a flexible chain. One gear of each set is firmly fixed to the tubular shaft on which the disks are mounted. The other gear of each set is firmly attached to a drive shaft which passes through the tubular disk-supporting shaft and which is directly driven by the motor and gear train. To permit the disks which engage the blanks to move radially, the inside diameter of the disk-supporting shaft is somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the drive shaft. Moreover, the gear of each set which is attached to the tubular shaft is slightly smaller than its cooperating gear. The circumference of the circle determined by the ends of the pins closely approximates that of the arc defined by the housing when no blank is in the conditioning chamber. When a blank is inserted into the conditioning chamber, the blank itself serves to move the rotating disks radially by an amount sufficient to permit its passage between the disks and the bottom of the chamber.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further features and advantages, reference should be made to the following specification which should be read in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of the of the device,

FIG. 2 is a section taken through FIG. 1 along the lines 2- 2,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly cut away and partly in section of an alternative embodiment of my invention, and

conditioning chamber FIG. 4 is a similar view of still another embodiment of my invention.

In FIG. 1, I show a housing 12, the particular section visible being a portion of the conditioning chamber. In the chamber there is a quantity of solvent 14, the level of which is maintained by a simple storage tank and valve in the storage chamber which is in communication with the conditioning chamber. This structure, which is only incidental to the present invention, is shown in detail in my earlier patent identified above. A blank 16 is shown impaled upon pins 18 and pressed against the bottom of the chamber. The pins are adjustably mounted in disks 20 which in turn are mounted upon a tubular shaft 22. Each of the disks is provided with a hub 24 through which a set screw 26 is threaded to bear against the tubular shaft 22 and thus maintain the disks in position. Within the tubular shaft 22 is a solid drive shaft 28 which is mounted for rotation in bearings 3t) and 32 which are pressed into the walls of the chamber housing. The drive shaft is rotated by a motor and gear train 34 which is keyed into the drive shaft as indicated at 36. The shaft is held in position longitudinally by means of a hand wheel 33 which is held on the shaft by means of a set screw 40. Power for rotating the drive shaft may equally well be derived from sources other than the illustrated motor and gear train of course.

A sprocket gear 42 is fixed to the drive shaft adjacent one side of the housing and a similar gear 44 is fixed to the drive shaft at its other end adjacent the other side of the housing. These gears may be held in place by any conventional means such as by the set screws 50 and 52. Mounted on the tubular shaft 22 adjacent its ends are gears 54 and d. The gears 42 and 44 are identical to each other as are the gears 54 and 56. However, the gears 42 and 44 are somewhat larger in diameter than are the gears 54 and 56. Linking the gear 42 and the gear 54- is a flexible chain 58 and a similar flexible chain 60 links the gears 44!- and 56.

In FIG. 2, a portion of the storage chamber is visible at the right hand side of the drawing. A barrier wall 62 separates the storage chamber from the conditioning chamber, and a passage 64 is formed at the base of the barrier to permit solvent to flow into the conditioning chamber. In this view the drive chain 60 may be clearly seen, and the clearance provided between the inner drive shaft 28 and the tubular disk-supporting shaft 22 is also plainly visible. In addition, a pivoted lid 65 is shown. A space is provided between one end of the pivoted lid and the barrier 62 between the storage and conditioning chambers to permit the insertion of blanks to be conditioned. The angle between the lid 65 and the barrier 62 is such as to permit blanks to be simply dropped into the chamber to be conditioned.

At the opposite end of the lid 65, a tray 68 is provided to receive blanks as they are disengaged from the pins of the disks 20. In this connection, it is my preference to form the end of the lid 65 as a series of fingers 67 which extend between the disks in order to insure automatic removal of the blanks from the pins after they have been conditioned. Additional provisions may also be made at this point to wipe surplus solvent from both sides of blanks being removed. Suitable structures are described in detail below, but the housing itself may serve this function in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The bottom surface of the conditioning chamber is preferably rounded more or less in conformity with the periphery of the disks. Also, to make certain that solvent is always available at the bottom of the housing, I have found it advisable to include a depression '74 at the lowest point. This depression is not essential to the operation of my invention, but I believe it to be helpful in assuring a complete wetting of the blank by the solvent in the manner suggested by the location of the blank 16 shown adjacent the depression 7 In operation, my device is simple and straightforward.

The operator simply drops a blank into the entry slot between the end of the lid 65 and the barrier 62. The blank is quite stiff and inflexible, and it is caught up automatically by the pins in the rotating disks. The floating nature of the coupling between the drive shaft and the disks is such that the blank physically forces the disks to accommodate themselves to its thickness as it is impaled upon the pins. The blank is passed through the solvent where the impregnant is softened, rendering the blank limp, soft and pliable. When the conditioned blank encounters the fingers of the forked end 67 of the lid 65, it is stripped from the disks and propelled outwardly onto the tray 68 by the continuing rotation of the disks, both sides of the blank being wiped of surplus solvent by the housing. It is then in suitable condition to be incorporated into a shoe by the operator. Because the conditioning operation is so rapid, the operator may simply drop another blank into the entry slot while he incorporates the previously conditioned blank in a shoe. He will then have another blank ready for his use in another shoe. The entire cycle is, of course, repeated continuously. It is of no consequence whether successive blanks are thick or thin. The floating transmission permits the accommodation of blanks of a wide range of thicknesses.

In setting the device up originally for its operation, the pins may be adjusted in their extension so that they just clear the bottom of the housing. Thus even the thinnest blank will become impaled upon the pins, carried through the solvent and propelled onto the tray. In the event that a thick blank is inserted, the disks will be moved away from the housing by the blank itself, and the thick blank will be carried through equally as well as a thin blank.

Although I have disclosed the structure which I presently prefer as an embodiment of my invention, it is also possible to utilize various other floating connections between the drive shaft and the disks.

For example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, I show such alternative arrangements which are also provided with selfadjusting wiper structure. In the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, the drive shaft 28 is arranged as is the previously described model, but the disk-supporting member 22 is a simple pipe on the ends of which the two sprocket gears corresponding to sprocket gears 54 and 56 are fixed by set screws or threaded.

The disks 2%, 22, etc. need not be provided with integral hubs, but may be separated by suitable tubular spacers. The whole assembly of disks and spacers may be keyed to the pipe and pressed together between the two sprocket gears. The pipe on which the disk assembly is mounted clears the drive shaft to provide the same floating connection, and a similar interconnection of sprocket gears is retained.

Perhaps the major difference in structure is the provision of an adjustable sprin -loaded wiper mechanism in the model of PEG. 3. At each end of the housing 12 is fixed a screw anchor '72 in which a screw 74 is threaded. A lock nut 76 may also be provided to retain the screw in any desired position.

Mounted on the head of the screw is a spring holder '78 to which a spring 56 is attached. A pivoted wiper bar 82 is pinned in place across the output slot of the housing. This bar is preferably made of metal although several plastic materials, notably nylon, Work equally well.

When a blank, such as the blank 17 is pushed by the action of the disks against the pivoted wiper bar, the bar swings downward a sufiicient amount to permit the blank to emerge. As the blank emerges, surplus solvent is wiped from both its surfaces between the wiper bar and the adjacent edge of the housing. The spring tension may be adjusted easily to give the desired wiping action despite variations in thickness of blanks.

L1 FIG. 4, another wiping mechanism is shown. A

piece of sheet metal 34 may be fixed in place adjacent the output slot of the housing. Blanks, such as the blank 17 are passed between the sheet metal wiper and the edge of the output slot. The metal chosen is of such a thickness that its springiness will hold blanks of a wide range of thickness against the adjacent slot edge and provide the desired Wiping as the blank passes through the opening.

Still other alternatives will immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing specification. One possibility is a housing arranged for cooperation with belts rather than with disks. Reverting to the flexible connection, however, one might utilize a connection between the drive shaft and the disks or support member which is made of rubber or other suitable flexible material. Another possibility is a simple spring connection between the two. Any interconnection between the shafts or between the disks and their supporting shaft which permits free lateral movement of the disks during their rotation I believe to be an alternative within the purview of my invention. Th refore, the invention should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for conditioning impregnated blanks, a housing for holding a quantity of solvent, a first shaft spanning said housing, at least one disk mounted on said first shaft, a plurality of projections extending radially outward from the periphery of said disk toward the inner surface of said housing for impaling blanks and carrying them through said solvent, a drive shaft normally concentric with said first shaft, and flexible means connecting said drive shaft to said first shaft whereby insertion of one of said blanks between said inner surface and said projections causes movement of said first shaft out of alignment with said drive shaft by an amount determined by the thickness of said blank.

2. A machine for conditioning impregnated blanks for box toes and the like comprising a housing having a generally rounded inner surface, first opening formed therein for the insertion of blanks and a second opening formed therein for the ejection of blanks, a quantity of solvent disposed in said housing, a tubular shaft spanning a pair of opposite walls of said housing and mounted for rotation therein, a drive member mounted on said housing, a drive shaft connected to said drive member and rotatable in response to actuation thereof, said drive shaft passing through said tubular shaft, and fitting loosely therein, a coupling between said drive shaft and said tubular shaft, said coupling being flexible, at least one blank-engaging member fixed to said tubular shaft and rotatable therewith, said blank-engaging member being peripherally rounded in general conformity with said rounded inner surface and being normally spaced therefrom by an amount less than the thickness of any of said blanks, whereby insertion of one of said blanks in said opening for the insertion thereof causes said blank-engaging member to move away from said inner surface during rotation of said blank-engagin means by an amount determined by the thickness of said one of said blanks.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said blankengaging member comprises at least one disk having a plurality of uniformly spaced pins extending radially outwardly from the periphery thereof and means for adjusting the amount of extension of said pins.

4-. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said coupling comprises first similar gears attached adjacent to the ends of said tubular shaft and second similar gears attached adjacent to the ends of said drive shaft in cooperating relationship, said first similar gears being of less diameter than said second similar gears, a first flexible chain connecting one of said first similar gears to one of said second similar gears and a second flexible chain connecting the other of said first similar gears to the other of said second similar gears.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,764,123 Derderian Sept. 25, 1956 2,818,832 Bushway Ian. 7, 1958 2,836,424 Guidi May 27, 1958 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING IMPREGNATED BLANKS, A HOUSING FOR HOLDING A QUANTITY OF SOLVENT, A FIRST SHAFT SPANNING SAID HOUSING, AT LEAST ONE DISK MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF PORJECTIONS EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK TOWARD THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING FOR IMPALING BLANKS AND CARRYING THEM THROUGH SAID SOLVENT, A DRIVE SHAFT NORMALLY CONCENTRIC WITH SAID FIRST SHAFT, AND FLEXIBLE MEANS CONNECTING SAID DRIVE SHAFT TO SAID FIRST SHAFT WHEREBY INSERTION OF ONE OF SAID BLANKS BETWEEN SAID INNER SURFACE AND SAID PROJECTIONS CAUSES MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SHAFT OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DRIVE SHAFT BY AN AMOUNT DETERMINED BY THE THICKNESS OF SAID BLANK. 